Beth Rauen Sciaino (and Phoebe)

(9:15 a.m. Family Service)

Why do we pray? What do our prayers say about our understanding of God? Do we ask God for things? To help us or to help other people? Do we tell God our worries and our secrets? Do we believe that God is actively involved in our lives? Do we think God listens to us? If we don’t, why do we pray? This is a question my Hebrew Bible professor at Drew Theological School has asked as we learn about the stories in which people cried out to God, talked with God, and saw God at work in their lives.

Why do we come here to St George’s? To worship God with other people, to learn about God, to see friends? Today we come to remember our family, friends, and pets who have died and we see that our friends also have similar loved ones. The Day of the Dead is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the roles that these people still play in our lives. A grandmother who taught us how to tie our shoes or ride a bike. A grandfather who baked cookies with us or fed us soup when we were sick. A pet who was always happy to see us. An aunt who sent us postcards from around the world. An uncle who encouraged our love of music. I’m sure that the people you are remembering today gave you gifts during your time with them that remain a part of you.

Here at St George’s we are also interconnected. And this interconnection grows through our engagement in church school; in the family service; in choir or a play; our parents’ service on committees; through welcoming someone new. Each of us has many gifts and talents we can offer in this community. Just as with our family members both alive and dead, there are threads that connect us to each other here at St George’s. If you look really hard you can imagine them.

Together as St George’s we share beliefs about God and God’s people. We ask questions, sometimes sitting with them in wonder, other times working together to discover answers. Every Sunday we have an opportunity to remind each other that each one of us is made in the image of God. These are blessings we can bring to the world outside of St George’s.

But what if we didn’t have St George’s? What would we do on Sunday mornings? Where would we learn about God? What would we learn? Who would give us unexpected wisdom? Where would we find a sense of belonging? Would we feel included? Would we recognize God?

Each of us is a steward of St George’s. Of what St George’s means to us, and to our community here, and to the broader world outside our doors. Our investment in St George’s is an act of participation, a way of living into of the blessings we receive in this place, from God and from each other. The pledges we make do practical things like keep the lights on and the staff paid. But they also keep alive the community of St George’s, the message we have been entrusted with from generations that came before us in this place. They expect that we will expand this message of God’s radical and healing love until everyone sees themselves in it. Just as we seek God in this place, within this our community, God seeks us. We believe God is present here in St George’s and sees that it is good. It is from this abundance that we give.

Cheryl Notari

I didn’t have an allowance as a child. My parents didn’t believe in it. All members of the house did their share according to their abilities and talents. My brothers and I took turns washing dishes, sweeping the floor, vacuuming the carpets and dusting the furniture. We didn’t always like it, but we did it with little or no complaint because my parents taught us that that is what being part of a family is about. I had the added duty of decorating for holidays as I had a talent for arts and crafts. Decorating made me feel confident and needed.

And as a child, I believed without a doubt that God would provide for me. I believed in the Gospel when Jesus said to his anxious disciples

"And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!"

Mathew 6:25-30

I knew that as a family we didn’t have a lot but we had enough. I never felt that I didn’t have all that I needed even if it wasn’t always all that I wanted. Yet as I got older and started to earn my own money, I began to lose my confidence in God’s promise. I began to worry about having enough. I worried that I won’t have enough money for college, enough money for gasoline and clothes. And at one point in graduate school, I even worried about having enough money for food. I was never in any real danger of starving, it was more my pride that was in danger. I did not want to go back to my parents and ask for help.

As I grew older, I never lost the sense that all members of the family should do their part to support each other. And as a member of the St. George’s family, I find it easy to give of my time and hopefully my talents. I consider it my share of the work of the community and the work of God. That part of stewardship has always made the most sense to me. The part of stewardship that is a little harder for me is parting with my treasure. Like the disciples that Jesus was speaking to in the above passage, I am anxious about having enough. I worry as many people do that we will have enough for this bill or that bill. Yet, I try to remember the abundance promised and how it felt as a child to trust in God so completely. And then I remember the words of Jesus, "where your treasure is, so shall your heart be." With that, I relax and I can give financially knowing that God’s family will benefit.

Cheryl Notari

Tom Savoth

I believe that when I fill out my pledge card or write a check to pay my pledge that I communicate with God in a most intimate and personal way. In my choice to give and sacrifice my limited resources to stewardship, I am thanking God for how I’ve been blessed and making a statement about what I believe is the right and good way to live my life. I will also admit that I am asking for prayers to be answered, some for the greater good and some that benefit me personally. I question if the latter is entirely consistent with what I want my motivations for Stewardship to be, but I admit that I am human when I do it.

I believe that it makes sense to understand Stewardship; pay attention to it and be at peace and reconciled with God about it. I believe Stewardship is central to why we are here at St Georges and what we are called to do. And I believe in a world with such an embarrassment of riches no one should be hungry, without shelter or living in fear. I believe that stewardship at St. Georges should be one way I can act locally while I pray globally.

I also believe that stewardship is very private and personal. Church should not be another place where people are vulnerable to feelings of being in competition; trying to keep up with or measure up to their neighbor. There are already too many of those places. St. Georges should be a haven from that. While I admire people who tithe, I also admire people who live in nice houses and drive fancy cars. I can be shallow; it’s part of human nature.

Finally, I believe it is my duty as a member of the Vestry to help create an environment where stewardship can happen and good works can flourish; “where God can bust out all over the place” to quote Barry Stopfel. I believe it is also the Vestry’s duty to be faithful stewards of the financial resources we’ve been entrusted with by the members of the parish and to see that they are properly directed.

Tom Savoth

You're invited to give a Stewardship e-Witness

Dear fellow St. Georgians:

This is the time of year when we reflect on all the ways that St. George's Church has added to the richness of our lives. During the season in which we consider how and why we pledge, various parishioners often give witness to the parish during the Sunday services.

Needless to say, not everyone is comfortable in speaking to the entire congregation, but everyone DOES have a 'stewardship story' if you will. Your words may be much more inspiring to others than you may ever realize! In addition to our traditional witnessing, The Stewardship Committee is embarking on a fundamentally new and different approach to witnessing...for those who are willing to do so, please share your thoughts and personal experiences with stewardship... the giving of time, talent and treasure.

Here are some questions to get you started:

“Was there a time when it was particularly difficult, and yet, it was rewarding?”

“What questions might you have about stewardship?”

"How is your understanding of God reflected in your stewardship decisions?"

So please give some thought about your stewardship journey... and respond to Chris West or Sharon McSorley (links to emails at right) with your story.

Acts 20:35b: "The Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

The Stewardship Committee:
Chris West, Chair
Sharon McSorley, Co-Chair
Chris Carroll
Lydia Andersen
Rob McGrath
Beth Rauen Sciaino
Cheryl Notari